Gandhinagar: In a major push for planned urban expansion, the Gujarat government has drawn up plans to develop five towns adjoining its major cities as ‘satellite’ towns.

The five identified satellite towns are Kalol (under Gandhinagar Urban Development Authority, GUDA), Sanand (Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority, AUDA), Savli (Vadodara Urban Development Authority, VUDA), Bardoli (Surat Urban Development Authority, SUDA), and Hirasar (Rajkot Urban Development Authority, RUDA).

The Urban Development Department (UDD) has set up a high-level committee to fast-track infrastructure development and ensure these towns, adjacent to the state’s five major cities, Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Vadodara, Surat, and Rajkot, grow in coordination with their respective “mother cities.”

The initiative aims to reduce population pressure, lower the cost of living, ease the burden on central services in metropolitan cities, and ensure balanced distribution of civic amenities and recreational facilities.

Town Planning Schemes (TPS) and Master Plans will be prepared for these areas to develop comprehensive infrastructure, including urban transport systems such as Metro and BRTS. To further reduce the burden on megacities and lower the cost of living for citizens, interlinking highways with green corridors will connect the satellite towns to their respective metropolitan centers.

To implement this ambitious plan, the Gujarat government has constituted a high-level committee of secretaries from tourism, sports, education, industry, employment, urban development, water supply, and finance departments. The committee will oversee future-oriented infrastructure planning and ensure balanced and harmonious development between megacities and their satellite towns. An initial fund of Rs 50 crore has been allocated for the project. DeshGujarat